Backpacking India 119/129: Thai Phake, a Thai community village in India thai phake ASSAM INDIA

Backpacking India 119/129: Thai Phake, a Thai community village in India Thai Phake, Assam

When talking about India, many people probably think of the grandeur of big cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, or Chennai. But for me, mr.hotsia, this trip took me to a hidden gem few know about: “Thai Phake,” a Thai community village in Assam state in northeast India, where Thai culture is still strongly preserved amidst India’s diversity.

Traveling to Assam state, which is not far from Dibrugarh city that I wrote about earlier.(Backpacking Northern India 6/45: Indian breakfast at a hotel in Dibrugarh)Coming here requires patience and a lot of contact with local villagers because Thai Phake village is not a main tourist destination. Only locals well known in the community can take us to truly experience their way of life.

Thai Phake is an ethnic group of Thai descent who migrated long ago. They live in the valleys and dense forests of Assam state, speak a Thai language similar to Northern Thai, and amazingly preserve authentic Thai culture, traditions, and cuisine.

Thai lifestyle and culture in Assam land

I entered Thai Phake village in the morning. The scent of earth, leaves, and birdsong warmly welcomed me. Most villagers still wear traditional clothing similar to ancient Thai attire. Women wear handwoven sinh skirts, men wear long-sleeved shirts and handmade cotton pants. The atmosphere felt like traveling back to our hometown in Northern Thailand.

What I, mr.hotsia, liked most was tasting food made from local ingredients but tasting like our Thai home food, such as sticky rice, grilled pork, fermented fish chili paste, and wild vegetables gathered near the village. I tried hot sticky rice dipped in spicy chili paste, and I must say it was much more delicious than I expected.

Additionally, the Thai Phake people hold annual traditional festivals, such as the Sixth Month Merit Festival, a cultural preservation event full of folk games and Buddhist religious ceremonies blended harmoniously with local Indian beliefs.

Beliefs and religion in Thai Phake village

Theravada Buddhism is the foundation of faith in this community. Small temples located in the village center serve as the spiritual heart of the villagers. Thai Phake temples have beautiful Buddha statues and murals. I had the chance to listen to monks chanting and talk with local monks. The peace and devotion made me feel like I was home again.

This experience reminded me of a trip I once tookto Namchiin Sikkim state, where sacred sites like Samdruptse Statue and Ngadok Monastery are spiritual centers for Buddhists in the region. My feelings about traveling in northern and northeastern India seem similar in the strong faith and culture of the people.

Travel and community contact

Visiting Thai Phake is not easy without local help. I spent several days contacting and finding someone to take me into the village by talking with villagers in Dibrugarh and nearby towns, who were very kind and willing to help. Most travel was by jeep and walking on some paths inaccessible by vehicle.

There are no resorts or hotels here, but villagers open their homes to travelers as homestays, allowing me to truly experience their way of life, including cooking, vegetable gardening, and folk games at night.

Connections with major Indian cities and other tourist attractions

After spending several days in Thai Phake village, I returned to Assam’s major city and visited other interesting Indian cities such as Bangalore(Backpacking Bangalore)which I have described as a tech city with delicious food, or Mumbai(Backpacking Mumbai)a port city full of history and diverse culture.

India is a wonderful country where every visit brings new discoveries. Getting to know Thai Phake village is one of the most impressive experiences for me, mr.hotsia, because it’s not just sightseeing but learning about the real life of people of Thai descent in a distant land who still proudly preserve their cultural roots.

Recommended video clip

For those who want to see real scenes from Thai Phake village, you can watch my videoBackpacking India 119/129: Thai Phake, a Thai community village in India Thai Phake Assam Indiato see their way of life, livelihoods, and fascinating culture.

Finally, this trip to Thai Phake village reminded me that in this vast world, there are still small communities proudly maintaining Thai identity and culture, even thousands of kilometers away from their homeland.